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Rep. Fred Upton, (R-Mich.), on an investigation that uncovered the Obama Administration’s secret deal to get the pharmaceutical industry’s support...
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An investigation by the house energy and commerce committee is exposed -- White House officials for cutting a secret deal with the pharmaceutical industry.
That was back in June of 2009.
So that Obama care could pass.
In a series it emails and other materials the drug industry agreed to back the president's health care law.
Because Democrats promised to protect their revenues and profits from hefty regulations.
With me now congressman Fred Upton chairman of the house energy and commerce committee.
Who oversaw that investigation.
Fred welcome back to the show it's great to have you here what was the most surprising finding out of that yearlong study.
Well couple things first -- congratulations and you -- time slot out of its own right Egypt coming over here before the votes at five -- -- tell you what's so frustrating.
We started this same investigation about the time when we started cylinder.
February of last year.
And we asked the administration for all these documents do what you know what can you tell us.
And they in essence -- gave this press release is nothing very substantial.
And went to pharma -- went to the pharmaceutical industry and they provided us -- -- details the emails.
And the secret deals have what transpired in terms of the president's proposal what.
Now is flawed what a lot of us want to Supreme Court to throw over the side break what did you know that the.
-- I think that's it the other thing that's interest -- -- remember.
This president said that he wanted all these discussions on C -- number.
Everything was going to be fully transparent.
In at the end of the day we aren't allowed to see the same documents the -- background stuff it in essence we got from private sector.
So we hear investigation fundamentally turns up here and what's so shocking is that essentially what you're saying is -- the White House.
Bought the support of the -- pharmaceutical industry for about eighty billion dollars.
By closing up part.
Medicaid.
Rebates they essentially put money on the table the pharmaceutical industry excepted it.
And now we have Obama -- Now 808080.
Billion dollars has the right number.
-- Now there's some people I know they look at this and they'd say well look this is the kind of job owning the goes on in Washington all the time they're always -- -- closed door conversations between business and government to.
Try to find some common ground what would you say to that.
Well remember I just I just throw the president's words right back at -- This is going to be the most transparent administration.
In history in the country.
Everything's gonna be open for inspection.
Question remember what speaker Pelosi said nobody knows what's in it nobody read it you know -- can read it then.
And tell you know what's in it all of those different statements.
In here it is that we're trying to find out what exactly happened secret negotiations.
Eighty billion dollars on the table and it took our report.
Actually -- -- and getting it from the pharmaceutical industry themselves because the administration remember wouldn't give us to us -- give us the dot is that it really would have.
Shown the light on this whole exercise and now the American public.
Is stuck with this bill that in essence the Supreme Court is going to be making a decision on in the next couple weeks -- -- a question about that Supreme Court decision that first.
You think anything illegal was done here was -- a quid pro quo.
He didn't do anything step over the line.
But I don't know yet.
Where probably -- were examining still more documents.
And look for some new -- -- have probably later this week.
And we'll we'll see.
We'll see -- it takes us that's what that's what our investigators wanted to take this follow the trail.
Well -- even saying -- of course the Supreme Court decision is the next big shoe to fall in this whole conversation.
What do you expect the court to do.
Why know what I hope what they'll do and that is said Dennis in the whole thing I thought this is unconstitutional from the start.
And remember the process here.
Mean this was process a bill that speaker Pelosi brought to the house floor she -- an 86 vote margin no amendments were allowed on the house floor.
The senate we -- reminded dead to senate passed -- on Christmas Eve.
By one vote.
And because of that special election that we had Massachusetts -- Ted Kennedy died Scott Brown ended up winning.
We ended up with the senate bill there was no conference nothing did to arbitrate did the differences between the house and the senate bill -- -- -- -- I believe that it is unconstitutional because it 2700 page bill that came to the house floor.
Would no amendments.
Inaudible well decide -- -- got to let you know whole thing just remember you know the cost of obamacare on -- go up you can keep your doctor.
And your premiums yes Davis yeah.
It exactly that was the biggest promises that's not going to be true are keeping housing shares into if you like it.
Fred thanks for coming on tonight appreciate your help we'll continue to follow this important story thank you and.
